News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-11-03

'fNow, sir, can l see him."
'And should [ refuse, my child?"
so no, you'll not do it, she said,
her beautiful eyes filing with tears.
''Shall 1 have walked five hours in
vain?"
"Walked?''
Eyes, to save the fare, since Andrea
needs it,
$50 you bring him money!"
"All | have, lire, 80 centesimi, the
savings of three years. wanted to buy
a new veil; now can use them better,
and my old veil is good enough
''But suppose the lire so centesimi
should be Insufficient"
Insufficient? Holy Virgin! have no
more-and yet I have something that
Andrea could use. Those golden ear
rings which 1 wear, the only token of
love my mother left me; thought to
keep them for life, but for Andrea 1
will sacrifice them with pleasure.
did not believe in the pleasure, for
her eyes were filled with tears. Those
large, glittering earrings which are
worn only on holidays and are inherited
from generation to generation, are the
pride of every italian family. I was
touched by this evidence of unselfish
love, and could keep her no longer
from the presence of her lover.
When Agnese, after the lapse of an
hour, returned from Andrea, she carried
no longer the bright ornaments in her
tiny rosy ears, but her eyes spoke mex
pressible happiness.
She uttered few words of fervent
thanks and prepared herself for the long
walk home.
"Agnese," said, ''night will set in
before you reach home -
81 know, she replied, "and father
will scold, and perhaps whip me; but
who cares since l am quiet about An
drea's fate.
"But he must not feel uneasy about
yourself, therefore rest awhile; within
| half an hour the next train leaves for
Italy, and l will give you free pass to
| Ceraino."
With the utmost difficulty I hid my
hand from the grateful girl who, with a
never-t r-to-be-forgotten look of thanks,
wanted to cover it with kisses.
Menotti had spoken the truth. After
a few days received the reply that the
| deserter had committed no crime for
which he ought to be extradited to TIA
| ly. / communicated this news to him,
to which he listened very quietly. ST
told you so, captain"
''But you assured me too that you
would obtain the necessary travelling
money from your brother in Verona"
GO Because I believed in fraternal love.
/ was mistaken"
Another love has richly recon-
pensed you. Agnese has confessed to
everything, also the true reason of your
desertion."
80 these women, they cannot curb
their tongues"
'sMenotti, don't abuse this girl, she
has a noble soul. If anything dis
pleased me, it was your readiness to ac-
cept her earrings
'She forced them on me, and took |
them only with the oath that L would |
restore them unto her on her wedding |
day.
Then it will be your duty, Menotti,
to keep your oath, and the first condition |
is to commence new life.
I'll do so, captain, as soon as I shall
be free"
You are free. Here is your pass
port to Trent. l hope that you will not
abuse my confidence.
mo, captain, as true as my name is |
Andrea Menotti. The future shall |
prove that you did not waste your kind
ness on an ungrateful wretch.
With these words he departed, every
inch q man. [ wondered whether he |
would turn out as badly as most desert |
ers do, and entered his name in my
notebook.
A year had passed and the sumner
with all its southern plaques had come |
again. was at the railway station,
looking at the passengers coming from
the North. Suddenly I was attracted |
by well-built man with dark, full |
beard. This figure, this sharp face, 1 |
did not see them for the first time, but |
where was | to search among my thou |
sand recollections2 Just then noticed |
how the man was looking at me too;
he hesitated for moment and quickly |
stepped up to me.
Good evening, captain, don't you
know me any more2"
The sound of his voice-now I knew. |
+" Andrea Menotti, cried.
andrea Menotti You did not rec
ognize me at once, see. I see the |
beard does its duty, and 1 may feel |
SAFE"
what are you doing here-near the
frontier2"
Nothing here, captain, but I intend
crossing the line this very night"
''And the ten years of hard labor |
which await you yonder?"
''My dearest captain, even in Italy |
they don't lock up fellow before they
have got him."
''But why do you seek this danger2''
Because l intend to keep my oath
As soon as [ return with Agnese Perrini,
you'll see her adorned with her ear
rings"
$50 you are going to fetch Agnese?"
''Yes, to marry her in Trent, where |
I've found steady and profitable employ
ment''
''And why doesn't she come to meet
you here, as she did last year!"
A shadow passed over the fellows
face.
''That's what / mean to find out. Two
months ago she wrote me that her father
objected to her marrying fugitive from
Justice; since then [ have not received
another word from her.
''That looks bad, Andrea; but now
Won must hasten not to miss your
train"
''To get arrested in Peri? No, sir;
Andrea Menotti is no such fool, L am
going to walk. Till / reach the front
Ter, it will be dark, and the secluded
paths to Ceraino and Agnese's farm 1
know too we'll to miss them in the dark
est of nights.
"Andrea, think, before you leap; you
are still on hospitable territory-a free
mani"
s'But restless, captain, till l possess
my Agnese. / can bare it no longer
and want to know my fate. God and
the saints will protect me.
With anxious eyes L followed the
young man who with firm steps walked
toward the frontier.
At four o'clock the next morning | re-
ceived this telegram:
Corporal BOnelli assassinated this
night. Please arrest Andrea MenOtti who
committed the deed, deserter
since last year and fugitive. Descrip
tion follows"
The despatch was trembling in my
hands. Seldom had / been reused to
such degree by any news Andrea
Menotti murderer.
l was lying in the shade of a high